Device for changing the type carriers of type levers

ABSTRACT

A device for removing, housing, and reassembling a type carrier from a type lever in which said type carrier is retained by resilient retaining means housing said type carrier on removal of said type carrier from said type lever comprising a body in which is formed a channel for receiving the type carrier, release means on said body movable from a first nonoperative position to a second position to engage and move the retaining means from its retaining position and a stripping member adapted to engage and hold the type carrier in the channel on movement of the release means to its second position and movement of the device away from the type lever.

United States Patent I 1 1 1 i 1 U Inventors Ola! Meir-er 1 Bel-In, 38 Krettnnerstr. 21; lei-hart Itodrhn, 1 Berlin, 37 Alberthemtr. 22, but! of. Germany 746,189

July 19, 1968 July 27, 1971 July 21, I967 German Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE TYPE CARRIERS OI TYPE LEVDS l2 Claim, 7 Drawing Figs.

3/1914 Biiaz 197/36 ABSTRACT: A device for removing, housing, and reassembling a type carrier from a type lever in which said type carrier is retained by resilient retaining means housing said type carrier on removal of said type carrier from said type lever comprising a body in which is formed a channel for receiving the type carrier, release means on said body movable from a first nonoperative position to a second position to engage and move the retaining means from its retaining position and a stripping member adapted to engage and hold the type carrier in the channel on movement of the release means to its second position and movement of the device away from the type lever.

PATENTEB M27 :92;

SHEET 1 BF 4 In ven tors O L A r Mas IVER REINHART Roan MN 6 T PATENTED JUL 2 719m SHUT 2 in J In ven tors OlAF ME/SNE/Q REM/HART RODRIA/V 5) 7 K Moo Le ATTORNEYS PATENTfinJuLzmn 3,595,359

sum 3 BF 4 In ven tors OLA F ME/SNER RE/NHART RODR/AN BY XMW A TTOR NEW) DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE TYPE CARRIERS OF TYPE LEVERS BACKGROUN D OF TH E INVENTION The invention relates to devices for removing, housing, and reassembling the type carriers of type levers, and especially to devices for removing and housing the type carriers of type levers on which the type carriers when mounted in the working position on the type lever can be locked by means of a resilient retaining element.

Numerous type levers comprising interchangeable type carriers are known wherein each type carrier mounted thereon can be locked in the working position by means of a resilient retaining element. Type levers of the above-mentioned kind are used in order to be able to employ, if necessary, special symbols which normally do not form part of the types of ordinary typewriters and calculating machines. It is obvious that interchangeable type carriers offer the advantage of broadening the range of application of the particular machine and of rendering it unnecessary to supplement documents by adding, by hand, symbols, such as Greek letters, not contained in a normal keyboard.

Experience has shown that the removing or reassembling of type can'iers in the case of type levers of the kind in question can cause difficulties. The difficulties can be reduced to some extent by the use of auxiliary tools. The irritation resulting from the fact that fingers become dirty when removing or reassembling the type carrier cannot, however, be avoided unless gloves, specially provided for the purpose are worn.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a device for removing, housing, and reasembling the type carriers of type levers on which each type carrier is locked in the working position by means of a resilient retaining element, the releasing operation being rendered considerably easier by this device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention consists in a device for removing, housing and reassembling from a type lever in which said type carrier is retained by resilient retaining means housing said type carrier after removal from said type lever, said device comprising body means defining a guide channel adapted to receive said type carrier therein, release means movably mounted on said body means and operable on movement thereof from a first nonoperative position to a second position to release said resilient retaining means and stripping means associated with said release means and adapted on movement of said release means into said second position to engage and hold said type carrier within said guide channel whereby said type carrier may be removed from said type lever by displacing said device bodily with respect to said type lever.

The device according to the invention makes the operation of changing the type carriers considerably easier. The device is pushed over the type carrier, is actuated and strips the type carrier from the type lever on displacement bodily from the type lever. During this operation, the type lever does not come into contact with the hand at all, and the contamination of the hands, felt to be troublesome and disadvantageous, is avoided.

In order to use the device not only for removing type carriers but also for fitting them, it is preferably provided with a stop against which the type carrier bears when the type lever and type carrier are fitted together.

The release element and stripping means are preferably formed as one unit, so that these two components can be moved simultaneously.

A particularly advantageous device, which is suitable for type levers incorporating interchangeable type carriers, in which the resilient retaining element takes the form of an overhanging arm on the end of the type lever, which arm can be swung out of the plane of the type lever substantially vertically, is characterized in that it has at the end of a guide channel a stop for the type carrier, relatively to which the release element, acting on the overhanging arm above the guide channel, is transversely guided.

It is advantageous if the release element has a pressure surface inclined to the longitudinal axis of the guide channel. When the type lever is introduced into a type carrier contained in the guide channel, this pressure surface enables the retaining element to be gradually moved into the open position, from which it passes to the locking position after return movement of the release element.

In order to ensure that the type carrier does not fall out of the guide channel when the device is in the nonoperative posi tion, the channel is provided with a braking element which presses against the pushed-in type carrier. The braking element is preferably formed as a piplike projection made of rubber or resilient plastics material.

In order to be able to ascertain from the outside what symbol is carried on the type carrier contained in the guide channel, this channel is open on the side against which the type elements bear, or is covered with a sheet of transparent material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is provided with several guide channels serving to store different type carriers. Several release elements, combined to form a single movable unit, are preferably associated with these guide channels.

The guide channels can be arranged side by side in a row or can radiate from a central axis.

In the last-mentioned case, the device takes the form of a polygon, the guide channels being accessible from the peripheral sides thereof.

The release elements of the device according to the invention are preferably pressed into their first nonoperative position by means of a spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a part-section of the front side of a device of the invention, in the initial position;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device seen in FIG. 1, but in the release position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view on the device seen in FIG. 3, the device about to be removed from the end of the type lever;

FIG. 5 is a view of the device of FIG. 4, seen in the direction of the arrow 5;

FIG. 6 is the plan view partly in section, of a device having several guide channels for different type carriers; and

FIG. 7 is the side view of the dismantled parts of the device seen in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. I to 5 the device comprises a body including a baseplate ll of transparent material, on which are secured two stubs l3 and 14, interconnected by a yoke 12.

The stub 13 has a web 15 in which are guided two pins 16 and 17 which are connected at one end to a pressure element 18 and at the other end to a release element 19. A stud 20 having a reduced portion 21 acts as a seat for a spring 22 which holds the pressure element 18 in a first nonoperative position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Fixed on the pressure element 18 and the release element 19 is an angle member 23 the portion 24 of which, bent towards the front side of the device, forms a stripping means. The end-face 25 of the yoke 12 acts as a face-stop for a type carrier 28 inserted in a channel 26, the channel 26 being defined by the facing surfaces of stubs l3 and 14.

The construction of the type lever 27, the type carrier 28 of which can be withdrawn from the end 29 of the type lever 27 when the resilient retaining element 30 has released a stop 31, can be seen from FIG. 5.

FIG. 3 shows the device of FIG. I in which the pressure element I8 has been moved against the force of spring 22 to a second position. Movement of the pressure element 18 is transmitted to the stripping means 24 and the release element 19 by pins 16 and I7 and release element 19 is shown with its tapered surface 32 in the position in which, if the device had been engaging a type carrier 28 of a type lever 27, then the resilient retainer element would have been displaced to release the type carrier 28. In this second position, the stripping means 24 projects over the channel 26 such that upon bodily removal of the device from a type lever 27,21 type carrier 28 present in the channel 26 would abut against the stripping means 24 and be held thereby in channel 26.

FIG. 4 shows the position of the released retaining element 30 when the device is actuated. It can be clearly seen that the release element 19 has pushed the retaining element 30 out of its retaining position. As soon as this position is reached, the type lever 27 can be easily wiflidrawn from the type carrier 28 in the direction of the arrow 33. The type carrier 28 remains in the guide channel 26. It is held there, after the stripping means 24 is moved back into the first nonoperative position, by a rubber pin 34 acting as a brake.

FIG. 6 shows a device for releasing the type carriers 28 of type levers 27, which device is provided with six guide chan nels 39 for storing different type carriers 28. This device consists of an upper part 35 and a lower part 36. The two parts 35 and 36 are held together by a screw 37, which permits a rela tive movement. A spring 38 holds the two parts 35 and 36 at a distance from each other. Provided in the part 36 are several guide channels 39 into which the type carriers 28 can be pushed. Here too, the guide channels 39 are equipped with brakes formed by rubber sections 40.

Release elements, formed from webs 42 set on edge on the inner surface 41 of the part 35, are provided on part 35. The inclined pressure surfaces of these release elements 42 are in dicated at 43 in FIG. 7. The position of the release elements 42 relative to the guide channels 39 can be seen from FIG. 6 in the upper part of which the release elements 42 are illustrated in section.

Also disposed on the part 35 are projections 44 which, when the parts 35 and 36 are pressed together, cover the lower part of the guide channels 39 and act as stops for the lower end 45 of the type carrier 28, facing the type lever 27.

The device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 operates in the same manner as the initially described device. Here too, the retaining arm 30 of the type lever 27 is swung transversely out of the plane of the type lever 27 by the release element 42 and the stop 31 is thus released.

When the parts 35 and 36 are pressed together, the type carrier 28 can thus be readily withdrawn from the type lever 27, the stop 44 preventing the type carrier 28 from being drawn out of the guide channel 39 at the same time.

It is of course, possible to modify the device according to the invention in a large number of ways. Thus for example, several devices of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 could be arranged in series, and the release elements I9 associated with all the guide channels 26 could be actuated by a common actuating member, not shown. The device according to the invention can also be used with other type levers, having type carriers, other than those illustrated in the drawing, and as described in German Utility Model, 1,937,334 and U. 8. Pat. No. 3,381,788 issued May 7, I968.

What we claim is:

l. A device for removing, housing, and reassembling a detachable type carrier having a type element thereon, said type carrier being slidably mounted within the slotted end of a type lever, retained thereon by resilient retaining means on said lever formed by a deflectable arm portion of the type lever, said arm portion comprising an abutment for engaging an abutment on the type carrier and locking said type carrier on said type lever, body means defining a guide channel for slidably receiving said type lever and type carrier therein, a

stop at the end face of said guide channel forming an abutment for the type carrier, release means movably mounted on said body means and movable from a first nonoperative position to a second operative position in which said release means deflects said arm portion and type lever abutment away from said type carrier abutment, stripping means movably mounted on said body means and movable from said first to said second position to engage and strip said type carrier from said type lever and when said type lever is slidably withdrawn from said guide channel leaving said type carrier stored therein for sub sequent reassembly on a type lever.

2. A device as recited in claim I, wherein the release means and the stripping means form a single unit movably mounted on said body means.

3. A device as recited in claim I, wherein said type lever arm portion is resiliently deflectable transversely to the plane of said type lever and wherein the release means is movable transversely to said guide channel to deflect said arm portion.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the release means forms a cam comprising a tapered surface inclined to the longitudinal axis of said guide channel for pressing against one side of said deflectable arm portion.

5. A device as recited in claim I, wherein a brake element in said guide channel presses against said type carrier when housed in said guide channel.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein the brake element is resilient.

7. A device as recited in claim I wherein said body means is formed with a plurality of guide channels to receive and house multiple type carriers therein.

8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of release means are connected to a common movable unit, each release means being associated with a respective guide channel.

9. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein the guide channels radiate from a central axis.

10. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein the device is in the form of a polygon from the peripheral sides of which the guide channels are accessible.

II. A device as recited in claim I, wherein the release means element is biased into the first nonoperative position by spring means.

12. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide channel is covered by a base plate of transparent material on the side against which the type element held by the type carrier bears.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. '3 ,595 ,359 Dated July 27, 1271 I ent r( Olaf Meisner and Reinhart Rodrian It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column t, line 54, "element" should be deleted;

Signed and sealed this 11th day of January 1972.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Cormnissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 50376-F69 9 \LS GOVERNMENT PRINYYNG OFFICE 1969 0-355-33 

1. A device for removing, housing, and reassembling a detachable type carrier having a type element thereon, said type carrier being slidably mounted within the slotted end of a type lever, retained thereon by resilient retaining means on said lever formed by a deflectable arm portion of the type lever, said arm portion comprising an abutment for engaging an abutment on the type carrier and locking said type carrier on said type lever, body means defining a guide channel for slidably receiving said type lever and type carrier therein, a stop at the end face of said guide channel forming an abutment for the type carrier, release means movably mounted on said body means and movable from a first nonoperative position to a second operative position in which said release means deflects said arm portion and type lever abutment away from said type carrier abutment, stripping means movably mounted on said body means and movable from said first to said second position to engage and strip said type carrier from said type lever and when said type lever is slidably withdrawn from said guide channel leaving said type carrier stored therein for subsequent reassembly on a type lever.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the release means and the stripping means form a single unit movably mounted on said body means.
 3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said type lever arm portion is resiliently deflectable transversely to the plane of said type lever and wherein the release means is movable transversely to said guide channel to deflect said arm portion.
 4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the release means forms a cam comprising a tapered surface inclined to the longitudinal axis of said guide channel for pressing against one side of said deflectable arm portion.
 5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein a brake element in said guide channel presses against said type carrier when housed in said guide channel.
 6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein the brake element is resilient.
 7. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said body means is formed with a plurality of guide channels to receive and house multiple type carriers therein.
 8. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of release means are connected to a common movable unit, each release means being associated with a respective guide channel.
 9. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein the guide channels radiate from a central axis.
 10. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein the device is in the form of a polygon from the peripheral sides of which the guide channels are accessible.
 11. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the release means element is biased into the first nonoperative position by spring means.
 12. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the guide channel is covered by a base plate of transparent material on the side against which the type element held by the type carrier bears. 